Cavan 2-13

Four Provinces 0-10

CAVAN took home the Senior B title on Sunday with an excellent display of football when they took the best that Four Provinces could throw their way and reacted with all the correct moves.

Paddy Smith had the most clinical when he scored a first half goal as good as any seen at the Mecca this season or any for that matter. With the game sitting on a tightrope, 0-5 to 0-4 for Cavan, Tomo's super blast was the foundation for the win.

A goal from Down under-21 Cathal McGinn to open the second half made the lead too much to over come for Four Provinces, and Cavan also answered a small resurgence with the final five points of the game to annex the B title.

Cavan started brightly with a point from Smith, and a hit post by the same player in the first three minutes. Four Provinces, however, settled and had the equalizer from Mike Higgins when Paul Walsh sent a long ball his way.

They had most of the play for the seven minutes but could not put scores on the board as they accumulated three wides.

Cavan had a lucky break when a shot by Smith was adjudged to have taken a touch for a 50 in the 11th minute, and Emmitt Killeen drove the kick between the posts.

Again, however, Four Ps replied. They had a pair of points, with Paul Walsh punishing lethargic play by Eoghan McParland and Justin O'Halloran with the first, and Mike Higgins slotted a free down the center from the 45-yard line.

The game had yet to come to life, however, and it was living between the 21s outside of the scores. Mistakes with the last pass let each side down, with attacks going a begging.

Four Provinces continued to forage well at the back, with David Doyle, Ryan Kiely and Paraic Porter working hard. They were helped by a brilliant save by Michael Grimes in goal when McGinn broke in front.

It was the pulse of energy that started a scoring spurt for Cavan in the last eight minutes of the half. They outscored their opponents 1-5 to 0-2 in that span. Each was of the highest order.

It began with a fisted point from Smith from a Killeen 50, and was followed by a McGinn point, a length of the field move that Declan Fitzpatrick finished with a point, and three points from Kevin Smith, Brendan Reilly when he stormed forward and another Fitz free.

The crowning gem, however, was created by Kevin Smith when he raced out of the halfback line and flicked to McGinn after riding three hard tackles. The ball continued to Tomo Smith's hands, and from 18 yards out he crashed the ball to the left top corner of the net.

Four Ps were left ragged in Cavan's wake. The game paused with Cavan ahead 1-8 to 0-5.

Akin to Tyrone in the All-Ireland final, Cavan started the second half with a goal that found its way to the net despite the attentions of a host of players. It was a solo run by McGinn, and as he lost possession he stroked it to the right corner and it reached its destination.

Four Ps now had nine points to claw back, and they began to try almost immediately. Four points in a row arrived all coming from Liam O'Donnell. Three came from 50s and they were excellent scores. When Higgins slotted a free from the 40-yard line over it was a four-point difference in scores.

At this stage Cavan had gone 15 minutes without scoring. That changed dramatically, however, as they finally settled to the task and the possibility that the win could slip away.

They came flying back with three points from Kevin McGeeney (a towering score) Declan Fitz and Brian Newman from a ridiculous angle.

When Tomo Smith made it 2-12 to 0-10 with a free from the right wing with the left peg and 10 minutes left on the clock it secured the win. Martin O'Connor had one last save to make when he smothered a drive from Higgins, but Cavan answered again with a point from McGinn.

Both sides had screamers that went wide of the net in the dying moments, but it would be agreed that Cavan should have had a goal from McGinn, while Four Ps shot from Paul Walsh was more in hope than anything else.

The Breffni Boys put on by far their best display of the year. They stood up and were counted when the going got tough, and even withstood the loss of Killeen, who had to go off injured, to get the win.

Martin O'Connor was confident in goal and made his one difficult save well. Michael Smith and Tadgh Lynn were very effective in the full back line. Brendan Reilly and Alan Carolan stifled the half forwards continually; Kevin Smith created the goal and had some tell tale passes on a quiet day. He has proved, however, in the last few weeks that he deserves a shot against Galway in the starting lineup.

Declan Fitz had three good scores and some valuable moments in open play. Brian Newman and Emmitt Killeen both had contributions, while McGinn was dangerous each time he touched the ball. Paddy Smith scorched the net and also did tremendous work when he moved out the field in the later stages, a man of the match display.

Four Provinces had one period at the start of the second half when they dominated, but they never looked like getting the goal they so badly needed. Michael Gallagher, Barry Quinn, Mike Higgins in spurts and Liam O'Donnell were the only ones that persistently looked dangerous.

Cavan: 1 Martin O'Connor, 2 Michael Smith, 3 Tadgh Lynn, 4 Eoghan McParland, 5 Alan Carolan, 6 Justin O'Halloran, 7 Brendan Reilly (0-1), 8 Kevin Smith (0-1), 9 Kevin McGeeney (0-1), 10 Sean Collins, 11 Declan Fitzpatrick (0-3), 12 Paddy Smith (1-3), 13 Brian Newman (0-1), 14 Emmitt Killeen (0-1), 15 Conor McGinn (1-2).

Four Provinces: 1 Michael Grimes, 2 David Doyle, 3 Michael Gallagher, 4 Ryan Dillon, 5 Mark Peacock, 6 Ryan Kiely, 7 Padraig Porter, 8 Liam Moore, 9 Barry Quinn, 10 Tom Logue, 11 Paul Walsh (0-1), 12 Conor O'Donnell (0-1), 13 Anthony Moore, 14 Mike Higgins (0-4), 15 Liam O'Donnell (0-4).

Referee: John Fitzpatrick (Rockland).

Man of the match: Paddy Smith (Cavan).